Home Safety Advice & Information : Hip Protectors
Hip fractures in the elderly after a fall are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. They can result in complications, infections, blood clot in the legs and failure to regain mobility. Hip fractures have a serious impact on a person’s life. Many older people lose independence and have to rely on help from family or need care in a nursing home. Hip fractures are also very costly; the annual cost of hip fractures is now more than £2 billion and for every hip fracture prevented the resources saved would pay for a total hip or knee replacement.
One method of preventing fracture is through the use of Hip Protectors. Hip protectors are devices designed to protect the hipbones during a fall. Most types are worn under clothing and consist of plastic shields or foam pads that are held in place at the hips with specially designed underwear. They reduce the risk of hip fracture by absorbing the force of a fall and diverting this force away from the hipbone.
Dr Julian Minns of Newcastle General Hospital has produced an article on the safety of hip protectors. Click here to read the full document 'How safe are hip protectors?' (
PDF format 130kb)
If you would like to make feedback or have any comments on the document then please contact Dr Minns directly at email julian.minns@nuth.northy.nhs.uk .
If you have any comments or queries about hip protectors in general then please contact the RoSPA Home Safety Department or our Information Centre at help@rospa.com
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